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Initially met with scepticism, the ‘Impact Player’ rule permits teams to substitute one member of their playing XI during a match in the Indian Premier League (IPL). Over time, franchises have embraced the concept of a 12-a-side contest, leveraging the rule to bolster their lineups and strategically sideline specialist all-rounders.
Introduced in 2023, the rule has recently ignited a debate within the cricketing community. Notable players such as Rohit Sharma, Axar Patel, Mukesh Kumar, Ryan ten Doeschate and Mohammed Siraj have expressed reservations about the Impact Sub-rule, suggesting that it diminishes the role of players. Adding to the discussion, South African cricketer David Miller has shared his perspective on this rule.
David Miller expresses his disappointment with the Impact Player rule
The use of this rule in IPL 2024 has resulted in a notable surge in high-scoring matches. Five of the six highest totals ever recorded in the IPL have occurred during the ongoing season, with teams consistently surpassing the 220-run mark. However, this rule has failed to garner favour from a Gujarat Titans (GT) batter.
Prior to GT’s encounter with the Delhi Capitals (DC) at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi, Miller echoed Rohit’s sentiments regarding the impact player rule during the pre-match press conference. He expressed his lack of enthusiasm for the rule, emphasizing his belief that cricket is ultimately a game of eleven players and should remain as such.
“The impact player rule, I am not a big fan of it. IPL has been a trial and is creating a lot of hype around it. The game of cricket has always been of 11 players. As Rohit mentioned, it is not the same in international cricket so we should keep the same,” Miller said during the pre-match press conference.
“It’s like having six bowlers and eight batters and taking the all-rounders out of contention. I don’t know what they’re going to decide if they want to keep it, but it is difficult for certain allrounders to bowl,” the 34-year-old added.
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Miller’s performance in IPL 2024
Despite leading his team to victory with an impressive performance, Gujarat’s hard-hitter, Miller, has been facing a lacklustre 17th season of IPL. Over his last five matches, the skilled batter has scored just 83 runs, maintaining a strike rate of 125.76. With the playoffs drawing near, it’s crucial for Miller to stage a swift comeback, as his team heavily depends on him to deliver match-winning innings.
